Re: combined free speed of 3 motors
 

Thanks Paul. I thought I remembered seeing something like that, but couldn't locate it.

Notice the nice symmetry in the solution. It's easy to see how to extend this to N motors, instead of 3.

Re: combined free speed of 3 motors
 

Perhaps I was unclear. I agree with your derivation of the free speed. I agree with the idea that there is a free speed as you describe and that it is of value.
What I am wondering about is your statement that
(emhasis mine)
I agree that you can calculate numbers for free speed, stall current, and stall torque for the combined motors. It makes intuitive sense why you could use the single motor equations, given that you can find a Kv, Kt, and R, how do you prove (I don't necessarily disagree; I just don't agree) that
T = I * Kt
and
V = I * R + omega / Kv
[Edit: To be clear, how do you prove that these statements apply for the combined motors; I already know that they apply to a single motor]

I presume that I have been unclear in my questions, because I have been asking essentially the same question, phrased differently, the last couple posts.

Re: combined free speed of 3 motors
 

Perhaps it will help to present the math in a slightly different way. Attached is a derivation for the torque vs speed curve for the 3-motor combination directly from the torque vs speed curves for the individual motors.

It's straightforward algebra. It follows naturally from the assumptions that 1) all three motor speeds are the same (since they are mechanically linked) and 2) the individual motor torques are additive.

As you can see, the combination behaves exactly like a single motor with torque = Tstall*(1-Speed/Sfree), where:

Tstall = T1s + T2s + T3s .... and .... Sfree = (T1s + T2s + T3s)/(T1s/S1f + T2s/S2f + T3s/S3f)

Re: combined free speed of 3 motors
 

I bookmarked this post the last time this came up, just so I could reference it quickly anytime I needed to:

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...39&postcount=3

Re: combined free speed of 3 motors
 

This is definitely the right step getting to where I want to be, however, although I do see the linear relationship between net speed and torque, I do not see how that necessarily allows us to use the single motor equations (V=IR + v/Kv and I = KtI) for the combined motors. I have worked out some of the equations and attached the derivations. Hopefully you will be able to see where I am going and can help get it that last few steps.

Re: combined free speed of 3 motors
 

Yes; those are what those constants should be (and what the resistance is). But as for Kt, it makes sense for it to be that (I say as much in the attachment to my previous post). Prove it. I may be sounding a bit picky, but I really dislike taking anything or granted that I can't see the derivation of. And I can't see how you derived that Kt other than to say it is combined motors' stall torque divided by their combined stall current. But why is it valid to say that? Why do Torque and Current still relate linearly? Intuitively, it makes sense. However, I have not been able to figure it out with actual equations.

Re: combined free speed of 3 motors
 

Worthy of note: If you combine motors with substantially mismatched free speeds, the free current for the combination can be large, and thus the value of Kt for the combination at high speeds will be less than the value calculated at stall.

I think this may be what James was trying to say.

edit: If you look at the last graph, you'll see that the 550 probably won't last long in this setup.

Re: combined free speed of 3 motors
 

That is what I was trying to figure out; I just wasn't able to figure out a way to tell for sure (ie, make the graph). Thanks.

Re: combined free speed of 3 motors
 

Creating a tool to help with this problem has been one of my back burner projects for a while now. I was never satisfied with just matching free speeds for different motors as there are many different ways to match motors, including matching free speed, stall torque, max power, max efficiency and matching slope. Depending on the application, you may want to choose a different matching condition.

As for the tool itself, I've worked through many of the thought processes mentioned in this thread and have a ~90% complete tool that combines up to 3 motors at any quantity using different operating voltages and fuses and matched by the conditions mentioned above. I then give the user the choice of plotting the torque or speed on the x-axis as well as giving the choice of plotting the super motor.

I've never gotten the workbook to a fully releasable version, which is why I haven't posted it yet, but it seems prudent to post it now. Plus, this conversation has me motivated to finish it through. I just uploaded the latest version to my motor performance white paper:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/2292